LeftcoastBC

We had some strange rules we had to follow regarding leave. I recall getting passes signed by local Chiefs when on leave but by the time I got to BC there was no such rule going into the States. We went across all the time. But BCP taken over in '49 and that was long before my arrival.

The rental car business was just a rule that followed along the fact that a US vehicle could not be driven by a Canadian in Canada back in the day. Period. Seemed just a simple old rule that reasoned if you were a Canadian and driving a US vehicle you hadn't paid the custom duties. The Big car guys didn't want you to know the price difference that we all know now.

There was a rule you could drive a US rental into Canada but only directly to a Canadian rental agency and change cars. So that became the actual reason why rental agencies would not let Canadians take them across the border. It was too expensive for them to get them back.. Then it became ok for the Agencies to allow rentals of those US vehicles to Us citizens to return them to US. Eg Seattle-Vancouver

And now

It's ok for Canadians to rent and return home and go on to other places and return the car. Eg Skagway.

Almost makes sence now..

Having seen the "BOLT" bus quite a few times as I was traveling 1-5 recently I thought that I would do a bit of research ...What I have seen online it appears to me that we should start to put their name out there.

They leave and arrive near the Train Station in Seattle and in Vancouver use the Bus depot.

Her is the Yelp link on the NW USA/Canada service.

http://www.yelp.ca/biz/boltbus-seattle

The price seems quite reasonable.

One downfall may be the Luggage restrictions for cruisers.

Answer: Yes of course.

See: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2047792

Great Thread and to the OP well done. ...... reflects a lot of my experiences and thoughts on the Century, Ports and the "Inside" Passage. It is a shame that the mainline Cruise lines do not do a passage or two more like they used to do...but Leaving or coming from/to f

VAncouver on the Inside is way better than leqving from Seattle. (Scenery wise)

The Century will be missed..

the Dude is bang on here...and even looks like he got his math right on the train trip date. :)

If you stayed a few days in Vancouver you would get more light closer to the 21 of JUne.

I have been doing the border/Seattle return trip fairly frequently recently.

I have used mainly Sumas/Huntington which is out in the Fraser Valley and I do have Nexus.

Having observed the regular lines if you are not traveling on a Stat Holiday or a Friday afternoon you should not have a longish border issue if you get away fairly early going north and return south later in the evening.

The train would be next best but of course you likely wouldn't be able to catch the early AM.

best of luck. YOur goal in Vancouver is certainly worth it..on a good weather day.

There are two pools and 4 hot tubs.

This is correct and usually one of the tubs if not two are too hot and one is too cold. lol

There is a reason that the Century is moving on to other tasks for RCL.

Kaline was my favorite player growing up! He was unusual in that he went to the Tigers straight out of high school and never spent a day in the minors.

Did he play wing? :p

Some of these old guys can really be a lot of fun.

To the OP. "I would never think of it" cause it's a New York Ranger thingy.

On our recent Pacific Coastal Cruise one of the pools was heated - too much! I couldn't bear to go in it. I am pretty certain the other one wasn't heated.

Wendy

So true ..One was pretty Warm...almost hot. The other will be as the Sun and local weather allow it.

Nobody needs to go to Balllantyne for a while and certainly no one on this thread. Several cruises late in the season is all that is left for this pier. At least that is the plan.... for next year it will be closed.

No one is turned away at the proper entrance for private vehicle.

I believe the order remains as follows in the HALL at Canada Place.(My last experience anyhow)

1) Drop your luggage,(excluding anything you wish to carry on) with the appropriate longshoreman location outside the main hall as you get dropped off. Ask to ensure you have proper ship.

2)Security (inside hall) masses move towards x-ray machines...

3)Proceed to your cruise line check in area.

4)Immigration for USA if required on your cruise. (Alaska for sure)

5) The all important photo op and then board.

Hi, I am back and all went well. NO PROBLEM getting on in Seattle at all. The day before we were scheduled to arrive in Victoria BC I got a letter delivered to my cabin. The letter stated that a hand selected people were selected by the Canada Border patrol for a second interview before entering the country. The letter stated that a list was emailed to the ship of selected people and I was to report to the front desk 2pm sharp just prior to getting off ship. I called the front desk, they said even if i planned on staying on the ship, it was mandatory I show up. Well, I did, along with about 30 people including some crew members. We waited for border patrol over an hour. they took us ashore before everyone else and took us to a holding area and one by one they took us to the side. They out in out just asked me if I was ever in trouble with the law. I told them my dui story. He had it all in front of him, exactly what I was saying. SO DONT LIE! He said to me, Im sorry but even though I had a minor case, I was not permitted to enter the country. Made me sign a form and I was escorted back on ship. Just cannot go into Victoria. I did ask him, what if I was entering via Vancouver? The officer said, I would not have been able to board the ship. Hope this is helpful.

Thanks for the info... It went as I expected ....only you know what the extent of your brushes with the law.

I still do not understand fully why if you were trying to board a ship in Vancouver they would not let you board as you would be dealing with US Immigration not Canada's. (All passengers in Vancouver clear US immigration when going to AK) Surely you would be allowed to board having already cleared Canada's Border. Maybe if it was a closed loop there would be some issue on your return? That's where you would meet up with Canada's agents again.

Your issues would be at entry to Canada in the first place.

Regardless another thread with great info.

thanks.

Luv2gamble -- just curious how your trip turned out. Any issues boarding in Seattle? We have similiar situation in our family and are cruising from Seattle in July. Thanks!

Please do !

I sailed out of Ballyntine on May 8th and stayed at a Richmond Hotel. I booked the Vancouver Shuttle which picked me up at my hotel (River Rock), picked up at others (don't remember if Days Inn was one) and went to the pier, for $15 pp.

 

Check-in at Ballyntyne was awful. Took me over 3 hours, and I have priority check in with RCl. I would recommend getting there before 11, or after 2, if not later. I don't know if immigration is the problem, but it shouldn't be. The time it takes to get through immigration is less than security or checkin. Shouldn't add more than 15 minutes to the process, not hours. I doubt I will ever sail out do Vancouver again.

Well for sure after September of this yr you won't sail out of Ballantyne ..it's being closed as a cruise facility. Thanks for coming.

Understanding the flow problems at our facilities is hard for us that live here as usually the cause is as explained above and just a staffing issue.

On March 11, Celebrity Cruises official poster to these boards reported that they were adjusting the music on all their ships and it would take a few days. This was in response to all the complaints about the loud music.

and I have printed that thread off and plan to take the printout on my next X cruise (just in case) as my experiences in the past made me an "Official" head case complainer.

I have not cruised since the March fix.

Cardero's and the "Lift" are close by but not cheap.

http://www.vancouverdine.com/carderos

http://liftbarandgrill.com/

Sonofagun when you try to answer your own question. eh!

If you are referring to the cruise parking for Pier 66 (downtown) you park (when we were there last, a few yrs ago) in a separate area on the level directly across from the pier and there is a walkway across/over the street. Elevator takes you down to street level near the Terminal Entrance.

The answer is Maybe.. if the ship is on time, if it's cleared on time if you "self" disembark and get transportation quickly.

Generally locals mostly agree on..... after 12 Noon but hey what?s 15 minutes.

Consider the recommended time that the airport and your airline want you to be there ahead of time.

Feel comfortable..... go for it.

Yep the biggest so far.

and she made it in and out OK :)

Tonight/Tomorrow morning Approx. 0445 . 8 MAY 2014

In case you were interested in seeing how close they allowed the masts and stuff to come to the bridge after putting in the system to lower them.

According to the X agent they plan on being dockside at 0530 and this would mean a 45-35 minute earlier passing under the bridge.

Of course they will leave at a better hour later 5 PM is scheduled push off. But if they planned wrong all the good stuff will have happened already :D

AS I was thinking of having a peak at how and what they lower the Masts/etc top side to make it under the Lions gate I checked on when they expect it to arrive.

Info from the X agent in Vancouver is that they will dock at 5:30 am and this should mean entering the inner harbour around 4:50. Well that fixed my enthusiasm for that venture,

Maybe I'll make it for their 5 PM sailaway. lol

Simply, there is a market here. Carnival, HAL, and Princess all cruise here.

La Paz, Manzanillo, Ixtapa, and Haultalco are just a few other ports Celebrity could visit? When it comes to safety, I feel far safer in Mexico than the Caribbean. I think most other west coast cruiser would agree with me.

I agree

Me too.... One ship from RCI (preferably X) out of LA one week north (in season) one week south would work for me. Use Victoria if you can do that on a return 7 dayer or if not the Ensenada shuffle

The best time to cruise Alaska is when it fits your schedule and budget. Perhaps if you can fit it the fact that the 21st of June is the longest daylight you might want to think about that.

Everything else you have no control ....

If you are from the Centre of the universe, is the MDR good enough for you :p

If you are from Cobourg and not Port Hope the prettiest town in Ontario (or is it Canada?).is the buffet good enough for you ?:p

Really great actually from a Blue ribbon "Guy" that looks like Steve Smith and lives 36 mins via a freeway from the rest of Canada.:eek:

Cheers from the other coast.

Only two walkable that I know of. But I'm not sure about holding your luggage. But money talks I guess. Phone them.

The Waterfront and the Seattle Marriott Waterfront. The later is closer.